1933 Duesenberg SJ Boattail Speedster - Sold at $2,600,000

The 1933 Duesnberg SJ offered here is one of the very rare and coveted factory built supercharged SJ's and the chassis still has its original numbers matching SJ motor, number J507, which was installed in it when new. It was delivered new to H.G. Liebhardt in Denver for whom it was fitted with close-coupled Convertible Sedan coachwork by Derham on the short wheelbase chassis, one of only two SJ Convertible Sedan's by Derham. Liebhardt loved Duesenberg's and also craved individuality so even though there were only five Derham Convertible Sedan's, after a few years of ownership he turned his SJ over to Ike Walton to be modified into a fixed roof sedan with a padded roof, skirted front and rear fenders reshaped into a tapered teardrop style, and reshaped hood side trim that paralleled the top edges of the front fenders. At the same time Liebhardt had Walton build a second open body, an open two-seat boattail speedster that harmonized (perhaps better than the sedan) with the teardrop fender's. Eventually in 1958 the car passed into the hands of well known collector Bill Harrah. Harrah had been unable, despite years of offers, to prize the Duesenberg Weymann Boattail Speedster (2537) from the hands of george Whittell, so upon receiving this factory SJ (2536) he commissioned Maurice Schwartz of coachworker's Bohman and Schwartz, to work with Duesenberg historian Everett Miller to create a near duplicate of the Weymann Speedster. Ironically Whittell decided to sell the Weymann Speedster to Harrah just as 2536 neared completion and Harrah expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of both by displaying the pair of them together until his collection was dispersed. After the coachwork was completed, Bill Harrah had a Certification team from the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Club visit his collection and compile files by Fred Roe, Keith Brown and Don Howell. The files still exist in the ACD archives where the car would be accorded the no longer issued Category 2 certification for coachwork constructed of, and with materials of the correct era. This is one of only 36 original factory-built Duesenberg SJ's. The ex-Bill Harrah Duesenberg SJ Speedster 2536 with engine J507 is an automobile of the highest quality with known history and provenance from new including Bill Harrah and Jerry J. Moore. Its beautiful Boattail speedster coachwork was assembled by one of the last surviving masters of classic Duesenberg J and SJ coachwork, Maurice Schwartz and succeeds a period correct second "summer" body built for the original owner. Its chassis and Supercharged SJ engine were born together at the Duesenberg factory in Indianapolis. It is inoe of the most beautiful, desirable and sporting Duesenbergs in the world. This car has most recently been invited to attend the 2009 Amelia Island Concours where they will be recognizing Bohman & Schwartz Coachbuilt automobiles.

Specs & Details:

Auction Date: 14 Nov 2008
Sold For: $2,600,000
Engine: 8
Transmission: man
Exterior Color: black
Interior Color: tan